The IOC previously discussed revoking the medal in December but waited until cycling’s governing body notified Armstrong he had been stripped of his seven Tour De France[3] titles. Following that action, he had 21 days to appeal the decision. The 21 days passed, so the IOC decided to take the medal away.

“Having had confirmation from UCI [International Cycling Union] that Armstrong has not appealed the decision to disqualify him from Sydney, we have written to him to ask for the return of the bronze medal,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams told The Associated Press. “We have also written to [U.S. Olympic Committee] to inform them of the decision.”

The first part of Armstrong’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which he confesses to using performance-enhancing drugs, is scheduled to be televised Thursday night on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).